"We want young people in all regions of Serbia to have equal opportunities to open their own startup companies. Children in Uzice are just as smart as those in Belgrade, Nis, Novi Sad. They just need to be provided with equal conditions so that they can show their innovation potentials. We did that today here in Uzice, "said Popovic.

He stated that the City of Uzice is an important center of industry and that large and successful companies operate in this city of Zlatibor district, such as Copper Rolling Mill Sevojno, Impol Seval, Prvi Partizan, which record good results and significantly contribute to the development of the local economy.

"This startup center will give a new impetus to the development and digitalization of the economy of Uzice." Innovations applicable in the companies of the Užice region will be developed here, and new startup companies will also be opened, which will contribute to greater employment of young people. We want young people to stay in Uzice and return to Uzice, knowing that they have conditions for work and advancement here ", stated Popović.

Minister Popović said that in the Startup Center in Užice, young entrepreneurs, in addition to space and the most modern IT equipment, will also receive the support of the best mentors who will train them on how to successfully perform on the domestic and foreign markets.

The Mayor of the City of Užice, Tihomir Petković, expressed his gratitude to Minister Popović for the support for the opening of the Startup Center and the opportunity for this city to show that it is a "source of innovative people and ideas". "This is a place where all the people of Užice, and above all our young people, will be able to show their innovation and creativity. We already have the first tenants in the center, and we expect the formation of the first startup companies soon ", said Petković and added that innovations and the IT sector are the future of Užice.

The project of opening the Regional Innovation Startup Center was realized by the City of Uzice and the "Regional Development Agency Zlatibor" with the financial support of the Cabinet of the Minister of Innovation and Technological Development.

The total value of the investment is over 60 million dinars, and the space of 422 square meters in the city center has been adapted and equipped, which is intended for the work of startup companies.

Based on the Program for Support to the Opening of Regional Innovation Startup Centers, the Cabinet of the Minister of Innovation and Technological Development opened nine Regional Innovation Startup Centers in Uzice, Cacak, Pirot, Zrenjanin, Valjevo, Gornji Milanovac, Krusevac, Subotica and Stara Pazova.

It is planned to open five more centers in Arilje, Priboj, Svilajnac, Kragujevac and Zubin Potok in Kosovo and Metohija.